A Speech Delivered By Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, AG. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, At The Commissioning Of The Rivers State Office In Port Harcourt Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Protocols
I have chosen to begin this brief speech with the above eternal Truth enshrined in the Holy Bible that God does everything beautiful in His own time. For me, today is not for long speeches but for thanksgiving to God. So, it is with pleasure and grateful heart that I welcome you to this event, a testimonial to what we can achieve as a region and as a people when we work in unity. My heart speaks more than my mouth can express because that we are commissioning this edifice today to the glory of God, is a landmark. It is a relief that from today our workers in the Rivers State office can work in an elaborate environment deliberately textured for maximum output.
So today as we commission the Rivers State office, we are celebrating our success; celebrating a milestone; celebrating a commitment to making a difference not only in the lives of the people of the Niger Delta region but in our staffers, as well. Our decision is to ensure that w exit all rented accommodation at the headquarters and across all the states to enable us conserve scarce resources we should be using to develop our communities.
Today the NDDC is changing the skyline of Rebisi in a good way. Let me use this occasion to thank the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for his donation of 2 hectres of land in Benin City for the building of a state office for NDDC workers in that state.
The NDDC was set-up to intervene in the provision of critical infrastructure in its mandate states; to create tranquility through elaborate development of human and natural resources. To fashion our abilities into development facilities; to address the deficiency we may have inherited by reason of habitat and geography. Those forms of intervention come through direct and intermediary actions by the Commission. However procured, we insist that the people be the primary beneficiaries.
This edifice was designed and completed with the staffers in mind. It has provisions for several facilities, including a large reception hall, conference/multi-purpose hall for 250 people, staff canteen, sick bay and offices for drivers on the ground floor. Each of its four floors has ample space for offices and a basement floor for archiving and car park.
It would accommodate about 120 members of staff, with unique office suites for the State Representative and the Director of the state office. Also, it has provisions for some Head Office Directorates such as Commercial and Industrial Development; Agricultural and Youths, Sports and Women Affairs. It is in deed, a worker’ delight!
Soon as I came on board through the gracious benevolence of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, I saw that workers of the Commission needed an office accommodation that would support their type of work. We soon hit the ground running as we tasked both the contractor and project consultant to an exit date. I concluded that if we must demand absolute service from the Rivers State office workers to the Commission and by implication to the people, we must provide them with the tools. It was a mission I committed myself to achieving. For me, it was a solemn commitment.
I thank the team of engineers from the Commission who ensured quality delivery and adherence to engineering standards. I thank the project consultant who tolerated my pressure as we approached the finish line. To management and staff, I thank you for supporting my insistence that we must exit 16 years of operating in a rented facility for our workers in the Rivers Stare office.
I thank the natives of Rebisi kingdom for the co-operation they have offered the Commission.
We are committed to completing other ongoing projects as funds permit. But one message we convey to you today is that our prospects are brighter. Our future gleams with glad tidings. NDDC remains committed to her Vision and Mission. In all modesty, we remain committed to pushing further our resolve to take giant strides to facilitate the all-round development of the Niger Delta and its people. That is our drive.
To our great God be all the glory!
